ZIMBABWE’S financial services sector stands to lose at least US$3 million daily in deposits after a union representing bank employees gave two-weeks notice to go on strike over a salary dispute, in a move that threatens to bring business in the country to a halt, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

The Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (Zibawu), a union representing 5 000 employees in the banking sector, on Tuesday gave 14-days notice to strike to the Bank Employers Association of Zimbabwe over an 80% salary increment deadlock.

THE MDC-T has officially protested to the Sadc secretariat over the handling of Harare’s political stalemate at last week’s summit and asked for assurances that the regional body would ensure credible polls in Zimbabwe.

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed to the Zimbabwe Independent last night that his party had officially communicated to the Sadc secretariat its displeasure over alleged “doctoring” of the Sadc communiqué and the blocking of debate on Zimbabwe in a full summit of leaders.
He refused to discuss contents of the letter which he said were confidential.

MEIKLES Africa Ltd has written to Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono saying only shareholders should resolve the dispute pitting its majority shareholder, John Moxon, and Kingdom Financial Holdings (KFHL) founder Nigel Chanakira.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Johannes Tomana has laughed off a document detailing close to 200 politically-related murders submitted to him by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party.

FORTY families from the Chiadzwa diamond fields and Mukwada villages in Manicaland have been given a 10-day notice to leave their homes and make way for Mbada Diamonds without compensation.

POWER tussles between two rival Zanu PF factions are threatening the viability of a wildlife-rich conservancy in Marondera after the party’s government ministers failed to evict supporters who invaded the animal sanctuary this week, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

A MT Hampden woman is suing Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and cabinet ministers for close to US$4 million as damages for the torture she says she suffered at the hands of one of his officers.

THE Zanu PF politburo has declined to co-opt into the central committee perceived allies of Vice-President John Nkomo, as power politics in the party continue to rock Matabeleland.

THE devil, walking around with a bible and asking people to close their eyes, kneel and pray, always raises scepticism even among hardcore Christians.
Such a scenario faces Zimbabwe today.

ON August 4, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara met in the capital to review the implementation matrix for the agreed outstanding issues of the global political agreement (GPA).

VIGILANT villagers this week stopped a group of axe-wielding militants from disrupting a constitution-making outreach preparatory meeting in Nyanga North constituency, according to constitutional reforms boss Douglas Mwonzora.

SANCTIONS imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his close associates will remain until the implementation of democratic reforms in Zimbabwe, the US ambassador has said.

STATE Enterprises and Parastatals minister Gorden Moyo has warned that Zimbabwe’s economic recovery could be hamstrung by poor performance of loss-making government companies.

SOME cabinet members are living in a block of flats in the Avenues area in Harare due to shortages of official accommodation, amid reports that former ministers and senior government officials were refusing to vacate state houses.

THE Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development ministry has raised fears that women, who constitute the highest number of participants in the constitution-making process, are being intimidated into silence at outreach meetings.